"Even though the minister does not count socks and cartridges and does not hold contract negotiations...I must take political responsibility for the entire defense field today," Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said.

Explosions were heard in the capital shortly before 11 p.m. local time, according to Kyiv Independent reporters on the ground. The sound of the blast suggested a target had been hit.

A shootout between Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) and State Security Service (SBU) broke out in Kyiv the morning of Sept. 2, injuring three HUR officers and prompting an investigation.

The Kyiv Independent's wartime travel series, "Dare to Ukraine," now has a YouTube channel of its own. Both seasons are available on the newly launched “Dare to Ukraine” channel, giving viewers one place to follow the full journey – from the country's biggest cities to a small village in Kyiv Oblast.

Key developments on Sept. 2: * Russian drones strike central Kyiv, at least 13 injured * Shootout between SBU and HUR in Kyiv during investigation of Russian FSB plot * Zelensky appoints new Ground Forces commander * Ukraine strikes Russian depots, confirms MiG-29, Ka-27 destroyed in earlier attacks * Zelensky announces new air alert system as Russia strikes Kyiv for seventh consecutive day At least 13 people have been injured after Russian drones struck central Kyiv on the morning of Sep

The same day, the High Anti-Corruption Court set Hr 15 million bail for Sense Bank CEO Oleksiy Stupak but rejected prosecutors’ request to hold him in custody.

Ukraine wants to close Russia's skies and has a plan to do it. In an announcement on Sept. 1, President Volodymyr Zelensky gave few details about what it would entail, other than making clear it would involve lots of drones. "There will simply be drones in Russia's skies on a scale that has to be taken into account," he said, as he warned "every airline that uses Russian airspace" against flying over the country. "The Russian sky will be de facto closed," he added. Zelensky's announcement co

Ukraine's incoming ambassador to the EU, Taras Kachka, stressed the importance of rule-of-law and anti-corruption reforms as the "cornerstone" of mutual trust.

Russian drones damage university, residential building, and a medical facility

One can only speculate about the real purpose of the CIA director's unexpected visit to Moscow. The fragments fed to the media may be accurate, partly accurate, or deliberately misleading. Washington's reasons for talking to Russia extend far beyond Ukraine and the Baltic states, although the latter matter more immediately as they are NATO allies. Moreover, Moscow's global activity gives Washington many other issues to address. Russia's power and reach have diminished since its full-scale inv

In this interview, the Kyiv Independent's Francis Farrell speaks with “Schweiger,” a Ukrainian drone operator from the Signum UAV Battalion of Ukraine's 59th Separate Assault Brigade – one of the country's pioneering FPV drone units.

The two-tier system is designed to allow more predictability amid relentless Russian airstrikes.

"Ukraine has decided that they want to blow up Russian energy assets and refined products, so that is creating upward price pressure on the global basis," U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.

As Russian strikes continue to batter Ukraine's power grid, railways, ports, and factories, investing in the country's infrastructure might seem like an odd bet. But regardless of the circumstances on the ground, there's always a need for infrastructure, Dominykas Tuckus, Ukraine lead and managing director at Amber Infrastructure, tells the Kyiv Independent in an interview. "The only question is what kind of infrastructure you can build under these circumstances," he says. London-headquartere

Ukrainian forces confirmed striking Russian logistic depots, alongside the destruction of two Russian aviation targets

With Ukraine's cultural heritage threatened by Russia's all-out war of annihilation, Kyiv is ramping up its efforts to support Ukrainian artists at the state level. "Tysiachovesna," or "1,000 Springs," is a project originally proposed by President Volodymyr Zelensky in the fall of 2025 to use Hr 4 billion ($76.7 million) of the state budget to support the creation of 1,000 hours of Ukrainian-language content. The Culture Ministry formally launched the initiative earlier this spring, encouragin

"I assured (Chancellor Merz) that Ukraine is ready to help — with expertise, experience, or in other areas where Germany may need it," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Accountability, predicatbility, and initiative are key words in the new leadership principles of Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief

"During this difficult time, we are trying to provide you with the assistance you need," Putin told Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sept. 1.

Sviatoslav Zaiets previously served as commander of the 20th Army Corps.

The parliament's blocking of reforms is "against the state — against the Ukrainian state," said President Volodymyr Zelensky.

"Member states are looking at the request, and I can say it is going in the right direction," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

"The most fair thing to do, also for taxpayers, is to take the frozen assets and give them to Ukraine," said Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Stenergard.

Ireland's Aughinish Alumina, owned by Russian company Rusal, exports overwhelmingly to Russia, with the material reportedly being found in weapons used against Ukraine.

"It is clear that it has all the hallmarks of state-sponsored terrorism," Kaja Kallas said of what Germany called a Russian hybrid attack at Leipzig Airport.

The figure includes 1,390 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sept. 1 dismissed reports of a possible new wave of mobilization in Russia as "absolute nonsense," while saying he had ordered preparations for large-scale strikes against Ukraine's energy infrastructure.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Chinese President Xi Jinping could hold a trilateral meeting at the upcoming APEC summit in China, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said on Sept. 1.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Sept. 1 called for a "decisive strategy" to counter Russian threats in Europe after Germany officially accused Moscow of attempting a drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport.

"Today we want to warn every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer, everyone who still uses key Russian airports — Russian skies are becoming completely dangerous," Zelensky said.

"Now we want to use this experience to build technologies that will strengthen Ukraine, help our allies, and ultimately make the world safer," former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said.

Thousands of Ukrainian children mark a milestone on Sept. 1 by stepping into a new world of classrooms and learning, with the "first bell" ceremony traditionally marking this transition. Yet this year, the "first bell" was forced underground as Russia pounded Kyiv with aerial attacks for the sixth consecutive day, as across the country, hundreds of thousands of pupils see their school life disrupted by Russia's full-scale war. Nataliia Maievska, the director of a secondary school with an empha